AN EXPLORATION OF THE EFFECTS OF CROSS CULTURAL FACTORS ON EXPATRIATES EFFECTIVE EXECUTION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

Agbo Melletus Uche Chukwu

Department of Business Administration

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Expatriates successful assignment has brought very complex and challenging issues currently faced by multinationals. Failed assignments are reported to be very high among expatriate. In light of this, this study provides new empirical evidence of recent expatriation management practices. The majority of the expatriates were dissatisfied with their living conditions and wanted an improvement in cross – cultural training. The major factors influencing expatriates’ low performance at work were security, expatriates’ maladjustment and culture shock experience. Furthermore majority of the expatriates reported that they were provided with host country’s culture and language training and therefore did not experience so much culture shock, but content analysis evidence showed that they did actually experience adjustments issues and culture shock and more focus was to be put in host country preparation. In conclusion, some recommendations for best practices were made.

Keywords:International assignments, Expatriates, Performance, Adjustment, Culture shock.